There are those out there who feel that Pixar has lost its touch, at least a little bit. The studio was putting out almost nothing but fantastic films during its first two or so decades. The Toy Story trilogy, WALL-E, Up, The Incredibles, Ratatouille, Inside Out, Coco, Finding Nemo, and Monsters Inc. all help make up an incredible string of great releases from Pixar. However, many believe that the studio started to slip, especially in recent years.
To be honest, that's something of a fair assessment but it's more because of the absurdly high bar that Pixar set for itself. Since they released so many tremendous movies, pretty much anything that isn't at that same level is seen as a disappointment to some. It doesn't help that the 2020s have seen the studio struggle financially, with several films being huge box office bombs and several others being released straight to Disney+, making them feel less important than theatrical competitors.
Despite those things being true, a closer look reveals that Pixar is still just about as good as it gets when it comes to animated films. Their releases so far this decade, including the latest movies like Hoppers and Toy Story 5, are mostly great, which makes it interesting to rank them all.
Lightyear was supposed to be the big comeback for Pixar. After having their films released straight to Disney+ for a couple of years, this was their return to theaters but the end result was a box office flop that barely grossed back its massive $200 million budget.
It also received less favorable reviews than other Pixar projects from the decade, yet that doesn't mean it's a bad film. Lightyear features stunning animation, good voice acting, and an intriguing sci-fi story. The fact that it ranks last yet still has a 74% rating on Rotten Tomatoes is telling of Pixar's outstanding level of consistency.
Pixar's other foray into the sci-fi realm in the 2020s resulted in another financial bomb. Elio had a similar budget to Lightyear but pulled in a smaller box office total. That's disappointing because the film itself is a touching story of found family centered on a kid who struggles as a misfit.
The titular Elio is an orphan living with his aunt and dreams of being abducted by aliens, where he might fit in better. When that actually happens, he gets caught up in an intergalactic struggle. As always, Elio is a Pixar movie that knows how to hit the emotional beats for a successful film.
When Elemental started its theatrical run, it seemed destined to be another flop for Pixar. However, something amazing happened as the positive word of mouth about the film led to it gaining popularity as time went on, resulting in it becoming a surprising hit at the box office.
Elemental is set in a world inhabited by anthropomorphic elements, and centers on the bond that forms between a fire and water element who help break barriers and work together to save a convenience store. Again, reviews were strong with praise going toward the visuals and the heartfelt story.
Turning Red made history as Pixar's first film to be directed solely by a woman. That makes sense since the movie centers on a female character, telling the story of a teen girl who transforms into a giant red panda when she experiences strong emotions.
The film was praised for how it used the premise as an allegory for menstruation, with this being a relatable tale for so many. Turning Red also features fantastic music, as the protagonist and her friends are obsessed with a pop band, whose songs were written by Billie Eilish and Finneas O'Connell.
It feels like Onward never got the true chance it deserved to be a hit. The film was released just as the pandemic began, cutting its box office numbers significantly and making it something of a forgotten modern classic for the studio.
Set in a suburban fantasy world, it focuses on two elf brothers who go on a quest to find an artifact that can temporarily revive their deceased father. Tom Holland and Chris Pratt lead a strong voice cast, while the fantastical world is engrossing to discover. The real kicker is that Onward has a harder-hitting emotional climax than you'd likely expect.
Luca is one of the Pixar movies that was released straight to Disney+ and because of that, it feels like it also hasn't gotten the recognition it deserves. It was nominated for Best Animated Feature at the Oscars, though it lost out to Encanto.
Set on the Italian Riviera in the '50s, Luca focuses on a young sea creature who assumes the form of a human boy on land. He wishes to experience that life and he meets new friends along the way, pulling him between the two worlds that matter so much to him. The movie sits at 91% on Rotten Tomatoes.
The Toy Story franchise is the peak of Pixar in the eyes of many. Each installment has been met with widespread acclaim, though there are always concerns when a new installment arrives that it could taint that reputation. That isn't the case with Toy Story 5, which is another critical darling.
The movie follows the toys we've come to love as they deal with the arrival of a tablet that takes away the attention of their owner, Bonnie. It's a timely release given the state of technology and toys in 2026, while also featuring great voice acting and some spectacular visuals.
Toy Story 5 wasn't Pixar's only release in 2026, with the other being Hoppers. As an original film that isn't a sequel, Hoppers is far less famous, yet it is also a fantastic movie. The story centers on a college student who loves animals and gets transformed into a robotic beaver.
She goes out and befriends other beavers and animals in her quest to save the habitat from destruction. Reviews were great, with Hoppers holding a 94% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, and it became a bigger box office success than expected, marking another hit for Pixar.
Soul is one of the most beautiful movies ever released by Pixar. Another that was released straight to Disney+, Soul managed to kind of overcome that aspect and became a streaming hit that captured imaginations everywhere and won Best Animated Feature at the Oscars.
The story of Soul focuses on a middle school teacher with a love for playing the piano. He falls into a coma and we watch as he, in soul form, tries to get back to his body before his potential big break. It's a heartwarming story about our passions and is a love letter to jazz music.
Inside Out 2 had a lot to live up to since the first is one of Pixar's most beloved films and the studio hadn't had an ideal track record with sequels. Thankfully, they more than hit the nail on the head with Inside Out 2, which worked for the same reason that Toy Story 3 did.
Inside Out 2 grew up with its characters, as we now deal with a teenage Riley and all the new emotions that come with that, with the most prominent being anxiety. The story has a massive emotional crux and people everywhere related to how anxiety was portrayed. Throw in pretty visuals and stellar voice acting and Inside Out 2 is a legitimate classic.
